How old do you think kids need to be before you will drop them off somewhere and not stay? I'm thinking of two situations:

1. Sport or some other kind of practice or event, where there will be adults but none who would technically be responsible for your kid.
2. Somewhere public like a movie theater.
3. Home alone for more than a few hours
4. Home with an older sibling (how much older must the other one be?)

There is a law here that in public places, you cannot drop your kid off until they are 12. It was passed in reference to the Casinos in our state because people were leaving their kids in the car or in a hotel room while they gambled!

For leaving them at home-no specific age, it depends on the child. The "suggested" (on social service web site) age is 12 but we left my dd last year at 11. I made sure I was in town and it was usually only for a couple hours. I still won't let her be here by herself on a day off from school. Too many things could go wrong and I only work 1/2 mile from home.

I have also left her at dance since she was 10. There was a person at the window and the owner gave us permission. I wouldn't leave her at a practice or game because if she got hurt, I would want to be there. Dance is another story. That is also 1/2 mile from my house so I figured I could get there fast if I had to.

We don't have siblings but I took care of mine when I was 12. That is until my mother decided it wasn't a good idea! I was too bossy!!

When Jenna was in dance, we would leave her for it. There were a couple different studios, but most around here don't let you stay because there isn't room. The last studio she danced in, the instructor was a friend who babysat her on occasion.
This year, I've left her alone for up to an hour, but I'd make sure someone was home at my parents, next door.
Mall, movie, places in public: I don't think I'll ever let her I think I was in Jr High when my parents let me, so we'll see.

1. Sport or some other kind of practice or event, where there will be adults but none who would technically be responsible for your kid. ................We did this with Lilly this year. She's 13.
2. Somewhere public like a movie theater...........Lilly's first movie with friends was this year too.
3. Home alone for more than a few hours
4. Home with an older sibling (how much older must the other one be?)............... Lilly wasn't comfortable being home alone with her sisters until she was almost 13. We will sometimes leave the girls home while we go to the gym. The gym is less then 5 minutes from our house and we're gone maybe an hour and a half.